FRED Film Radio - English Channel

PODCAST| Chiara Nicoletti interviews Beki Probst, president of the European Film Market.

The European Film market wouldn’t have this name and wouldn’t be the pioneer it is known to be had it not been for Beki Probst and her work from 1988 onwards. Since 2014 she has been the president of the EFM that she created and the 68a Berlinale has awarded her with the most prestigious award, the Berlinale Camera. On FRED Beki Probst describes the first years of EFM, the atmosphere that there was back then and how it slowly but strongly became the big and essential market we know and attend annually to kick off the cinematographic year.

Beki Probst is considered the grande dame of the film world. Under her direction, the European Film Market has developed into one of the largest and most important trade fairs for cinema on the international scene. Dieter Kosslick congratulates his long-time colleague and friend on 30 years of successful work: “Without Beki Probst and her contacts worldwide, her charm and cosmopolitan gift for combining business and culture, the EFM would never have become such a successful platform and the strong backbone of the festival.” Beki Probst was born in Istanbul, where she first worked as a journalist after completing her studies in law and journalism. In 1960, Probst moved to Switzerland, where she became the general manager of the Probst-Kinobetriebe, known today as Quinnie Cinemas. From 1981 to 1988, Beki Probst served as the Berlin International Film Festival’s official delegate for Turkey and Greece. Up until 1995 she also served as a member of the selection committee for Locarno International Film Festival. From 1988 to 2014, Beki Probst was the director of the Berlinale’s European Film Market – Probst rebranded the former “film fair” as the European Film Market and subsequently transformed the event into one of the most significant industry meet-ups for the international film business. In addition, from 1988 to 1996 Beki Probst was the artistic director of the Geneva-based festival “Stars de Démain”. She has served as a jury member on multiple occasions at international film festivals, including appearances in Toronto, Jerusalem and San Sebastián. In 1992 Beki Probst was decorated as “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Ministry of Culture. Beki Probst was honoured with the Berlinale Camera on Friday, February 16, 2018, at 11.30 at Berlin’s Martin-Gropius-Bau.

To discover more about the European Film Market and Beki Probst, click here.

The post Beki Probst – European Film Market #Berlinale2018 appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST | Domoina Ratsara, film critic and journalist.

Domoina Ratsara is one of the Talents of this year’s edition of Berlinale Talents. She shares with FRED’s listeners her background and experiences.

Discover more about the Magazine she writes for here.

Follow her Facebook page here.

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PODCAST| Chiara Nicoletti interviews actress Michaela Coel, the UK representativ for EFP Shooting Stars 2018.

Since her participation in Star Wars: The Last Jedi in 2017, Michaela Coel’s fame has travelled beyond UK borders. In her country she’s a well known award-winning actress, playwright, screenwriter and poet and she has already won two BAFTAs. At the 68a Berlinale she’s the UK representative at the EFP Shooting Stars and without doubt, she’s the most international actress among her fellow stars colleagues. Despite her work in the US, she doesn’t feel American but very European. At the moment Michaela is unstoppable, a film is coming out this summer and her musical is almost ready so that she will probably be back on FRED soon.

EFP European Shooting Stars, one of EFP’s flagship programmes, has placed some of the most promising young actors from all over Europe into the limelight over the past 20 years and proven to be an essential stepping stone for launching their international careers. The most prominent names in recent years included: Carey Mulligan (Mudbound), Alba Rohrwacher (Ismael’s Ghosts), Alicia Vikander (Submergence), Pilou Asbaek (Game of Thrones), Riz Ahmed (Star Wars: Rogue One), Mikkel Boe Foelsgard (Land of Mine), and George MacKay (Captain Fantastic). Each year, young actors from all over Europe – who have already made a name for themselves in their home countries – are nominated by the EFP member organisations to take part in the prestigious programme. A jury of industry professionals selects the ten most interesting and internationally versatile talents to be introduced to the press, industry and public at the Berlin International Film Festival. As a European Shooting Star, the actors and actresses attend a tailor-made programme, including meetings with casting directors, talent agents and producers, which broadens and strengthens their international industry alliances and networks. The activities culminate in a glamorous presentation of the European Shooting Stars Awards at the Berlinale Palast.

To discover more about Michaela Coel, click here.

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PODCAST| Bénédicte Prot interviews Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert, director/scriptwriter and co-scriptwriter of the film Mug.

A lovely Berlin moment, a few hours before the awards ceremony and the Silver Bear for Mug, with Polish director Malgorzata Szumowska and her long-term co-scriptwriter and DoP Michal Englert – also her collaborator on the two other films Szumowska presented in competition in Berlin, In the Name of… and Body, the latter ending up winning a Silver Bear for Best Director -, to discuss the choice of the title Mug, the origins of this very Polish satire and the humour in it, as well as the main character and what he embodies… Silver Bear – Grand Jury Prize Berlin 2018.

Mug combines the fundamental brutality of a rural provincial town where a giant statue of Jesus Christ is being built – a community quite content with sticking with the old ways whilst having an impressive potential for exaltation (for discount store operations or whatever is on TV -, with the story of a young and vital Metallica fan (Mateusz Kosciukiewicz) who has an accident while working on the statue and has to undergo a facial transplant. Around this loveable, now nearly-mute Frankenstein-type character whose his own mother doesn’t recognize, the village goes beserk.

To discover more about the film, click here.

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PODCAST| Chiara Nicoletti interviews Matthijs Wouter Knol, director of the European Film Market.

Since its birth in 1978 thanks to Beki Probst, the European Film Market has always worked on being and staying a pioneer in anticipating trends and waves in the film industry as it has the important task of starting the cinematographic year and setting the tone for its developments till Cannes and American film Market. Matthijs Wouter Knol, director of the EFM, comments on the celebration for its 30th year of activity and on the increasing number of visitors, exhibitors and participants. The EFM Horizon is at its second year of activity and its Industry debates are focusing on new technologies, Virtual Reality, Artificial intelligence and Blockchain. To open a discussion on diversity and why it matters is a special focus at this year’s EFM as is the whole future of the industry. Talking about “Focus”, the new country in Focus this year is Canada. The EFM was always the first to set new discussions to the table, first it was the EFM Drama series, then the attention on the producers side of the industry chain and now it’s the development of new technologies and new techniques. With the market trends changing so fast, how can the EFM keep track and predict the future? Matthijs Wouter Knol unveils a few secrets.

The Profile of the European Film Market Harnessing the energy of Berlin and the passion for film, the European Film Market is the business epicentre of one of the most important international film festivals in the world, the Berlinale. Every February the EFM opens the grand doors to the Martin-Gropius-Bau and welcomes over 9,500 producers, buyers, sales agents, distributors, exhibitors and financiers to the first major film market of the year. It’s the first date in the industry’s calendar and regarded as an early indicator for the new film year. Our trusted organization and commitment to quality content from around the world brings together the right people at the right place and time, inspiring the conversations and connections that are the cornerstone of the business. The meetings, the handshake, and the new film year… it all starts here.

To discover more about the European Film Market, click here.

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PODCAST| Angelo Acerbi interviews Marcus Hu, Head of Strand Releasing.

Marcus Hu is the owner of Strand Releasing, one of the largest independent distribution companies in the US and also member of the Academy of Motion Pictures , where he is working on a programme on diversity inclusion for the Oscars and for the general work the Academy does all over the world.

The post Marcus Hu – European Film Market #Berlinale2018 appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

PODCAST| Mario Galasso interviews Edoardo Nunes and Bárbara Luz, director and actress of the film Unicórnio.

Eduardo Nunes, young filmaker from Brazil, talks about his cinematic visions and literary obsessions while discussing his mysterious and immaginative coming of age drama, Unicórnio. FRED Film Radio met him during the 68th Berlinale Film Festival, where Eduardo’s feature was selected inside the Festival section Generation 14 plus. Bárbara Luz, teenage actress extraordinaire and gorgeous lead character, joined us too.

Unicórnio:  In an exhilarating, immersive flood of images, this mysterious drama portrays the coming of age of 13-year-old Maria, who lives in a remote rural home alone with her mother. When a young man moves into the neighbourhood with his goat herd, her life is suddenly turned upside down. As secret wishes and fears stir within Maria, she anxiously realizes that her mother seems to have gained a fresh lease on life. Maria confides only in her father, whom she visits in a somewhat surreal sanatorium. Why is he there? And why does he say that God is evil? Maria decides to take a drastic step. With its captivating visual opulence and the fairytale-like poetry of its narrative style, the film creates a space which inspires imagination and self-reflection.

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PODCAST| Mario Galasso interviews Walter Rodríguez and Catalina Saavedra, actors of the film Marilyn.

You might remember Catalina Saavedra: she was the lunatic Nana in the unforgotten black comedy La Nana – The Maid, by Sebastian Silva (2009) – she plays the mother to an outstanding young actor (Walter Rodríguez) for the first time on the big screen, playing a troubled teen looking for love and acceptance, whose identity is painfully refused by the little community he tries to cohabit with: of course, the story takes a very, very dark turn.

Marilyn:  There’s not much going on in this part of rural Argentina where a shy young man named Marcos lives with his family. Theirs is a modest existence, where gender roles are clearly demarcated. The hot summer doesn’t make life any easier, but money needs to be earned and the herd of cattle must be kept together. Marcos manages to carve out little islands of freedom during his routine; in these moments he likes to put make-up on his childlike face or slip into colourful dresses behind closed doors. Carnival is just around the corner; this year’s event will change Marcos’ life as dramatically as the family’s unexpected relocation. Martín Rodríguez Redondo’s cinematic debut is a tender portrait of youth and initially repressed self-discovery, told with serene understatement, devoid of guiding music. The roar of motorbikes promises both freedom and danger and, although there appears to be no escape from this world, the situation is far from hopeless for at some point young Federico appears on the scene. The images are contemplative and the narrative linear, yet the course taken by the film’s seemingly predictable trajectory is nonetheless surprising. A story based on true events.

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PODCAST| Chiara Nicoletti interviews Babak Jalali, director of the film Land.

After many pre-production years, Babak Jalali’s third feature film Land has finally “landed” at the 68th Berlinale in the Panorama Section. The director, born in Iran but living in London, describes the long journey to the realization of the film and how the italian contribution, starting with the Torino Film Lab, was essential to the making of Land. The film, according to Jalali, is a a European co-production but it’s Italian in its soul and roots. Why do Europeans know nothing about that often forgotten world of American Indian reservations? Babak Jalali tries to answer while describing his intention of showing the American Indians’ situation with no pity but an empathetic approach. The key to the power of the film is also the cinematography so Jalali comments on his collaboration with DOP Agnes Godard.

Land:  The Yellow Eagle family are Native American and live on the Prairie Wolf Indian Reservation. News reaches them that Floyd, the youngest son of the family, has died during military service in Afghanistan. The waiting begins to get his body back to the Reservation to be buried. The youngest surviving son Wesley, is an alcoholic. His brother’s death doesn’t really hit him as his only aim during the day is to get hold of beer. Wesley is in daily contact with the white population who run the liquor stores right outside the reservation. This uneasy relationship reaches unpleasant levels when acts of violence break out and he is directly affected. The eldest son, Raymond, is a recovering alcoholic with a wife and two sons. Although he feels a sense of responsibility for the extended family, he seems to feel too emasculated to do something about it. Until the troubles that have affected his two brothers force him to stand up and be a man again.

To discover more about the film, click here.

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PODCAST| Mario Galasso interviews Janet van den Brand, director of the film Ceres.

Born in Oostvoorne, the Netherlands in 1989, Janet van den Brand studied film directing at Sint-Lukas Brussels University College of Art and Design and the Royal Academy of Fine Art (KASK) in Ghent. Her short films have been invited to several festivals, for example her graduation film, Rosa, Anna’s Lil’ Sis, screened in the 2013 Generation section of the Berlinale. Ceres is her debut documentary feature. Fred Radio met Janet during the Berlinale to discuss her first feature documentary, Ceres.

Ceres:  Piglets are born, and calves, lambs and chicks too. Crops are sown, planted and harvested. Animals are slaughtered. The camera stays close to the action, following Koen, Daan, Sven and Jeanine through their everyday lives. All four kids are growing up on farms that have been passed down from generation to generation. From a young age they pitch in, learning to bear responsibility and say goodbye. Will they take over their parents’ farms one day? In her feature-film debut, Janet van den Brand shows us young people, their intimate bond with nature, their perceptions and wishes. She accompanies her protagonists through all four seasons, drawing a realistic portrait of the agricultural life devoid of false romanticism and yet deeply poetic.

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